Computing-scale.



Patente-d1une 25, 190|.

- C. S.I MORRIS.

COMPUTING SCALE.

N M d l) (Application led July 30,1898.l sh t sh t (ooe. .4 eeseel.

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N0. 677,093. Patented lune 25. |90l.

c.- s. MORRIS.

COMPUTING SCALE.

(Application iled July 30, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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4 Sheet-Sheet 3.

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No. 677,093. Patented 'lune 25, lem. c. s.V Monms.

COMPUTING SCALE.

(Application led July'SO, 1898.) (No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS MORRIS, or MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To THE COMPUTINGr SCALE COMPANY, on DAYTON, OIIIO.

COMPUTING-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 677,093, dated June 25, 1901. Application filed July 30.1898. Serial No. 687,280. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatI, CORNELIUS S. MORRIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, hate invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing-Scales; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of lthe invention, such asA will enable others skilled in the art Io to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to computing-scales wherein provision is made for taking tare in the usualmanner and at the same time asx 5 certaining lthe value of a quantity of matter according to its selling price per pound, which does away with mental calculation and merely requires a preliminary adjustment according to the price per pound of the comzo modity. Computing-scales of this character are now on the market and have met with more or less favor, the principal drawback to their universal adoption being the high price demanded and due in a large measure tothe complicated nature of the constructions employed, making the production of a complete machine rather expensive.

The principal object of my present invention is to simplify the construction of com-A puting-scales to the greatest extent possible Y without detracting from eiiicient service, and my invention provides for constructing a completemachine of this character with a greatly-reduced number of parts as compared.

with prior machines, while at thesame time the efficiency of the mechanism is not in the least impaired.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in a number of novel construc- 4o tions and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are recited in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

and of which-- Figure 1 represents the upright portion of the machine in front elevation and the horizontal base portion in cross-section on the line I I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents the Inachine in cross-section taken on the line II II of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of certain slide-blocks and appurtenances. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the same with certain coperating parts in cross- A section. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of 55 the main lever of the platform system, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig.

j represents in longitudinal section the parts appearing in side elevation in Fig. 3. Fig.

8 shows one Of the clamping-levers in per- 6o spective. Fig. 9 is a section on line IX IX of Fig. 5. Fig. l0 is a top plan view of the platformlever system.

I have shown the invention embodied in the Well-known platform type of scales, and the letter a. designates the platform, which is supported above a suitable hollow base a by a system of levers in the usual manner, one of said levers,which is designated by the reference-letter Z2, having a rearwardly-project- 7o ing forked end portion, the arms b of which carry at their extremities loops or nose-irons b2, having knife-edge pivot-pins b3 for a pur; pose hereinafter explained. Said loops vor nose-irons are formed tostraddle the lower edges of the arms b', and they are adjustably connected therewith by bolts b4, passing through slots b" in the webs of the loops, (see Fig. 9,) the position of the latter being determined by means of set-screws 196, which 8o bear against the rear ends of the loops b2 and work through lugs b5 on the under side of the arms. The rearend of the lever b is sus-v pended from the top of the hollow base Ct by clevises ai, and a shorter lever co5 is simi- 85 larly suspended from the top of said hollow base, at its forward end, by clevises d", the two levers being connected together by means of a link a7, embracing a knife-edged pin as, projecting from an intermediate portion of 9o the lever b, and a similar pin co9, projecting from the forward end of the lever 0.5. The platform-slab a is mounted upon a frame a, having feet am, which rest upon knife-edged Apins d, projecting from the two levers.

Aside from the formation and equipment of the lever b at its rear end the above-described platform system is Wellknown in the art. The knife-edge pivot-pins b3 are engaged by the hooked lower ends c of the rods c' and c", loo which extend through openings in the base a' and have hooks c2 at their upper ends engaging oblong hangers or clevises c3 c4 with bifurcated upper ends c5, pivoted to lugs formed on 'the under side of a bar d at opposite ends' f, which is thus pivoted intermediate its ends,

said tare-beam being inscribed in the usual manner to indicate pounds and fractions thereof and carrying an indicating slide block or poise f. At its outer end this beam has suspended from it the usual hanging poisefz, the'stem of which is formed into a hook at its upper'end for engagement with a clevisf3, hanging upon a knife-edge pin f4, fastened in the beam, and the inner end of the beam has a U'shaped form, the arms of the `U supporting a screw-threaded rod f5, on which aV weight f6 may be adjusted in a Well-known manner for the purpose of balancing the machine.

The bar d, heretofore mentioned, has at its middle, on the under side, depending lugs d',

which are notched and rest upon the knifeedge pin d2, secured in the tare-beam f, and

` it will thus be seen that the tare-beam is so connected with the platform -as to subserve its customary function of taking tare.

Proceeding now to the computing devices,

-the bar d is formed withA a longitudinal groove d3 in each side, and a slide-block g embraces a portion of said bar above the groove, said slide-block being recessed, asl

shown at g in Fig. 4, and'provid'ed with anges g2, which engage the grooves. spring g3 occupies the said recess, being affixed at its middle to the `top thereof and bearsat its ends against the bar d, so as toV hold the flanges of the block against the upper sides of the grooves of the bar, and thus keep'the parts in proper engagement, while permitting easy sliding of the block along the bar. The upper portion of the said block is .transversely bifurcatedwand receives a square block h, which is held in place in the bifurcation of the first-named block by means of screws h', entered'through the lat'- ter and countersunk therein and engaging sockets 'in the block h.

The computing-beam comprises al valuebar i and aprice-bari, with connecting crossbars at the ends, and this beam is pivotally supported at its middle portion by the standard e, the upper ends of the members 'of which are notched to accommodate a knifeedge pivot-pin 2, fastened in an ear 3, rising from the price-bar C A slide block or poise j on the price-bar is connected by straps or links j' with the block h,heretofore mentioned,

A flat the latter supporting a knife-edgeV pivot-pin in cross-section and occupy hexagonal openings `7" in the said straps, which at their upj, receiving the diamond-shaped endsl of aV knife-edge pin f1,- fastened Yin the upper portion of the slide-blockj. The price-bar has the usual double row'of numbers, indicating the'prices per pound of'various 'commodi- -ties, and the slide-blockj has two indicatingpoints for registry with the marks on the price-bar with which said numbers are associated, the said slide-block beingA provided with a toothed piece 7c,'fastened in a recess yedge of the price-bar.. That portion of the slide-block j which dependsbelowjthe pricebar is bifurcated, and thebosses of a pair of having upward-extending arms fm?, which normally bear against the under edge of the place under stress of a double ogee spring m2, straddling a pin m4, which is fastened in the slide-block, `the ends of theA said spring' being carried-under the bosses of the leversand pressing against the latter on-the outer sides of their pivots. The depending arms of the blocks, as shownin Fig 1 and in full lines ln gs m", which by abutting the edges of the block vlimit the outward-movement of the ends on their inner sidesv With teeth m6, adapted to engage V-shaped notches m7 in the opposite sides of `the block g. ,The object of this arrangement is to provide for are to be moved along the bars, and it Will be seen that by pressing the levers m together by meansfof the thumb and. forenger not only are the blocks connectedfin an eiective levers Witht'he block g, but the arms fm of thelevers are at the same time disengaged from theprice-bar, and the two blocks can be when properly positioned the mere release of the levers fm, will cause the block j to beheld in its proper position.

The computing-beam may be provided at one end With a .casing '125 for an adjusting stem of which is hook-shaped at its upper end for engagement with a clevis 7, hanging on a knife-edge pin is, secured in a gooseneck 9 of the computing-beam. The latter is also opening n in the upper end of a post n2, rising from the shelf a3 andslotted at fris' to accommodatethe tare-beam. The usual slide block or poise o is mounted on the value-bar e' and formed With tWo indicator-points, and

7L, whose end portions are diamond-shaped' iper ends are provided with similar openings .t

pricebar, so as to hold the slide-block in central portion of thedepending part of the levers normally standout from the slide-v in Fig. 3, and these levers are formed With4 levers, and are also formed at their lowerv connecting the blocksj andg when the same.

manner by reason vof vtheA engagement of thev Weight, and at the opposite end it may supportthe ordinary hanging poise or shot-box i6, the.

formed with a projection4 n, occupying anY at its upper part and engaging the serrated levers m occupy the bifurcation, said levers Y lool IIO

easily slid along to any position desired, and

the barvis inscribed with row of numbers.

the usual double In operation the blocksg andy' are moved along until one of the indicating-points on the bloclrg registers with the mark at the number indicating the price per pound of the com modit)1 being weighed. This adjustment of the blocks does not affect the poise of the machine; but the weight'of the commodity on the platformofcourse has the effect of depressing the computing-beam on one side of its pivot. By moving the slide o along the value-bar the machine can be balanced, and

a number associated with the mark register-y ing with the indicating-point of the said slide o gives the value, it being understood, of course, that the value mustbe read from the row of Iigures corresponding with the row in which the number used on the price-baris to be found.

Of course the operation can be dilferentlyV pursued-as, for instance, by first settin g the sliding poise 0 to register. with the figure denoting the amount of money the purchaser desires to expend, andthen the commoditT can kbe supplied until a balance is had, the slide-blockj having of course been previously set at the figure denoting the price per pound of the commodity.

It is to be noted thatin manipulating the machine it is not necessary to move a weighty carriage, as in somey of the machines heretofore devised; but the adjustment is effected by simply moving a pair of slide-blocks, the

connection between the same being such as to facilitate their readymanipulation, as will be apparent. At the same time upon the release of the levers which connect the two blocks together while they are moved the pivotal bearings between these blocks afforded by the screws h' and knife-edge pins h and jf permit a ready self-adjustment in the connections, soas notto affect the poise of the machine, and the diamond form of the pivot-pins provides for a knife-edge bearing under either upward or downward stress imposed upon them in the balancing of the machine.

The mode of connecting the bar d and the platform system is extremely simple, while at the same time, by reason of the double set of connections and ther corresponding form of the main lever of the platform system, adjustment of the connected slides is permitted without affecting the normal poise of the machine. It may be well to explain in this connection that when ther machine is in normal condition the gravitating force of the hanging poise or shot-box f2 on the tare-beam is sufficient to cause the upper edge of the pin 71, to bear upwardly against the walls of the openings j", and consequently to press the straps j upwardly, so that the walls of their openings js bear against the lower edge of the pin jt Therefore adjustment of the blocks j and g has no effect to disturb the poise of the computing-beam,as normally these blocks impose no weight uponv the same. Neither does a change of position of the said blocks aifect the poise of the tare-beam, for the bifurcated form of'the main lever and the duplex connections between the same and bar dpreserve the balance whatever the location of the slides. To make this perfectly clear,

it may be explained that in setting up the machine and adjusting it the computingbeam is hung in the standard and its shotbox supplied until a balance is effected, and then the slide-block j is put on and coupled up to the other parts of the scale, after which the tarebeam`shotbox is supplied until a balance of both beams is established and necessarily the computing-beam is relieved of the weight of the block j.

In weighing beyond the capacity of the computing or tare beams slotted weights will be employed in the usual manner on the hanging poises, and when not in use these slotted weights can be conveniently held on a bracket a", supported at a suitable elevation between the standards a2.

The general arrangement of parts is some,v

-seen `upon a comparison of the two.

l'Vhile the form of embodiment of the invention here shown and described is admi.

rably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily set forth, yet it is equally apparent that changes may be made without departing from 'the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

coupled with the slide-block on the price-bar,

a member of the platform-supporting system having a horizontally-bifurcated portion extending under the said horizontal bar, and couplings extending between the ends of the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar respectively and pivotally connected with such parts, provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of the horizontal bar to a vertical plane.

2. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam having value and price bars with indicating slide-blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending longitudinally below the price-bar of the computingbeam, a slide-block on said horizontal .bar coupled with the slide-block on the price-bar,

rco

a lever 'of the platform-supporting system having 'a'horizontally-bifurcat'ed portion extending under .the said horizontal bar, and' jointed couplings extending between the ends' of the bifurcation and' the ends of the `horizontal bar respectively and pivotally connected vwith such parts, 'provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of the horizontal bar to a vertical plane.

3. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam having value and price bars with indicating slide-blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending longitudinally below the price-bar of the com putin g-y beam, va slide-block on said horizontal bar coupled with the slide-block on the price-bar, a lever of .the platform-supporting system having a horizontally-bifurcated portion extending under the said horizontal bar, and

jointed couplings extending between the ends of the bifurcation and the ends of the horizontal bar respectively and leach set of jointed couplings being pivotally connected to `both` of the said parts with the axes of the pivotal connections at right angles to each other, together with a tare-beam pivoted to a stationary support and engaged `with the central portion of the horizontal bar, provisions existing tending to constrain the movement of the horizont-al bar to a vertical plane.

4. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam'having value and price bars with indicating slide-blocks thereon, a horizontal bar ex'tending longitudinally below the price-bar of the lcomputingbeam, a slide-'block on said horizontal bar con pled with the slide-block on the price-bar,

clevises pivotally suspended from the horizontal bar,A a lever of the platform-supporting system having a horizontally-bifurcated portion extending under said horizontal bar, and

rods coupled to the clevises respectively and pivotally vconnected with the ends'of the bifurcation, substantially as described, together with a tare-beam pivoted to a-stationary support and engaged with the Acentral portion of thehorizontal'bar, provisions ex-A isting tending tojconstrain the movement of the horizontal bar to a'vertical plane.

5. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a computing-bcamhaving value? and price bars with indicating-slide-blocks thereon, `a horizontal bar extending longitudinally below the price-bar of the'computing-v beam, a slide-block on said horizontal bar coupled with the slide-block on the price-bar,

a member of the platform-supporting 'system having a horizontally-bifurcated portion extending under the said horizontal bar, and couplings extending between the ends ofthe bifurcation Vandthe ends of the horizontal bar respectively and pivotally connected with lsuch parts,`together with a tare-beam engagedwith the central portion of'the horizontal bar and alfordingmeans for balancing, the platform independently of the computingbeam.

6. vIn computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam having val-ue yandv price zbars, ahorizontal bar extending longitudinally below theprice-bar, slide-blocks'on the latterland the said horizontal bar -and cach having .a pivot-pin projecting from opposite sides and formed with upper and lower knifeedges, links having openings'at their upper and lower ends receiving-said pins, and suitable connections between the horizontal bar andthe platform or holder of the scales.

7. In computing-scales, the combination of a 'computing-beam'having value and price bars with lconnecting slide-blocks thereoma horizontal bar extending longitudinally ybelow the price-bar ofv the computingbeam,a slide-block on .said horizontal bar. coupled with the slide-blocken the lprice-bar, a ver-` tically-disposed angular' lever pivotedgto `the price-bar slide-block, a spring acting'against` said leverto press lonfearm.thereotfagainst the price-bar and hold the other .arm away from the slide-blockeon'the horizontal-bar, said angular lever /being manipulative vto disengage its upper arm from the price-bar and engage its lower arm with the-slide-block on the horizontal ba-r and thevlatter slideblock and sai-d lowera-rm of the leverhaving interlocking formations, suitable couplings between the-horizontal bar and the platform f or holder ofthe scales.

l8. In computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam y'having `value'and price bars with 'indicating slide-blocks ythereoma horizontal bar 4evaxtending longitudinally below the price-bar 4of the computing-beam, a slide-block on said horizontal bar coupled with the slide-block on the price-barand having notches in opposite sides, spring-actuated levers on the slide-blockiof theprice-bar hav- IOO ing arms normally engaging the-latterand teeth adapted to. engage the notches in the slide-blocken the horizontal bar, When'said levers are moved in vopposition to 'the spring,

and couplings between the horizontal barI and the vplatform or holder of the-scales.

9. In 'computing-scales, the combination of a computing-beam having value and priceA bars with indicating slide-blocks thereon, a horizontal bar extending longitudinally be- 10W the price-bar of v,the computing-beam, 'a slide-block-on said horizontal barcoupled with the slide-block on'the price-bar, springactuated levers on .the slide-block of v,the price-bar.havingarmsv to engage the latter and lugsto abut theblock and limit the movement of the levers, thelatter and the slide-block of the horizontal bar adapted-for engagement, and couplings' between the horizontal bar and the platform ory holder Iof: the scales.

In testimony whereof 1I `affix `m y Vsi gnature in presence of two witnesses.

CORNELIUS -S.\M`ORRIS.

Witnesses:

'JOHN GooDMANsoN, HENRY VIERIcHg Jr. 

